What is Customs? History of Customs service in Uzbekistan. What is customs?

The International Convention on Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) entered into force on 1 January 1988.

There are above 90 Contracting Parties to the Convention and 150 countries actually using the HS as a basis for their national Customs tariffs.

The HS comprises:

• 
  General Rules for the interpretation of the System
  
• 
  Section and Chapter Notes, including Subheading Notes
  
• 
  A list of positions arranged in systematic order and subdivided into suppositions.
  

Besides classification of goods the HS is used as a basis for rules of origin, for collection of excise and sales taxes and for monitoring trade, in controlled drugs, precursors, chemical weapons materials and other toxic wastes.

The 2007 version of Nomenclature comprises 5019 goods under subposition identified by a 6-digit code, and is provided with the necessary definitions and rules to ensure its uniform application.

For the purpose of tariff classification, the HS also provides a total 1220 positions grouped in 97 groups arranged in 21 Sections.

The Sections

- HS contains XXI section. Name of the section has only information nature.

The Groups

- HS contains 97 groups, which mark the Arabic numeral. The Group gives initial information on goods.

The Positions

- consist of 4 digits:

- two first numerals mark group, to which this position belongs to

- two last numerals mark the place to positions in group

Subposition

consist of 6 digits. For instance, HS 2007 contained 1220 positions and 5019

20. Customs Regimes.

Depending on the purpose of the movement of goods across the customs border their customs clearance is carried out in accordance with the following types of customs regimes:

1) Export;
2) re-export;
3 ) temporary export;

4) Processing inside the customs territory;

5) release for free circulation(import)

6) re-import;

7) temporary import;
8) processing outside the customs territory
9) temporary storage;
10) customs warehouse;
11) free warehouse
12) free customs zone

13) Duty-free shop

14) Customs transit

15) Destruction;

16) Renunciation in favour of the state.

The movement of goods across the customs border shall entail the obligation of authorized persons to place goods under one of the customs regimes and to comply with the requirements and conditions of this customs regime.

Authorized person is entitled to choose any customs regime or change it to a different customs regime, regardless of the nature, quantity, country of origin or destination of goods and vehicles.

Selected customs regime declared by the declarant in the customs Declaration which is submitted to the customs authority for customs clearance.

21. Export-Import Documentation

The acquisition of overseas customers is only the first step in selling goods abroad. The job is not complete until a consignee has physically received the consignment and the consigner has been paid. The final part of the order cycle involves completing the documentation requirements, arranging the transport and ensuring the payment.

Every exporter can recall a horror story related to problems with documentation. Of course, some problems may be unavoidable, but in too many cases it is the exporter who has not been punctual enough in providing the required documents.

Errors in documentation cost money. The first consequence of a mistake is a delay to the consignment which may be kept in a warehouse under customs control. Whenever the delay occurs, storage charges will become payable almost immediately, and they have a tendency to rise as the delay extends.

The storage charges have to be paid in full. The warehouse operator will simply refuse to release the goods until all charges have been settled. The customs warehouses are not meant for long-term storage that is why most customs authorities exercise their power to seize goods which have not been cleared through customs within a certain period.

The other danger of delay is the loss of confidence by the customer. Moreover, any delay in delivery will immediately lead to a deferment in settlement of the invoice, which will affect cash flow.

Documentation for export is not complicated. Many of the forms required for importing goods are the same as for exporting. These include invoices, packing lists, the certificate of origin, the CMR form, bill of lading and air waybill. The first three forms are issued by the consignor; the rest should be completed by carriers.

The basic document used both in export and import is a commercial invoice. The details that will always appear in it are the names, addresses and other information about the consignor and the consignee and a full description of the goods. Other details on the invoice will be the marks and numbers of the packages, the price and terms of sale. Normally, every invoice should contain a statement about the origin of the goods and in some cases it is compulsory to state the country of origin.

The other document frequently requested is a certificate of origin, which should be completed before the goods are exported. Usually certificates of origin are obtainable from chambers of commerce.

A packing list will detail the contents of a consignment. It contains the number and kind of packages, their contents, the net and gross weight (in kilograms as a rule) and the full dimensions and total size of each package.

22. The Unified Automated Information system

State Customs Committee is taken the complex measures on broad introduction into the customs activity information-communication technology, promoting ensuring the effective control of transport facilities and goods transferring in the regime of import, export and transit, as well as all process of their customs registration.

From the beginning of 2006, was designed and introduced row of Automated Information systems, providing collection, processing, accumulation, analysis, keeping and issuing in regime of the real time of information, on the chain "customs post - regional customs management - SCC" and back.

By these system are occupied practically all main functions and directions of activity of customs service. Nowdays the UAIS SCC of the Republic of Uzbekistan consists of the following programs:

• 
  Automated system data processing of Cargo Customs declaration (ASDP SCD);
  
• 
  United electronic information system of foreign trade operation (UEIS FTO);
  
• 
  Automated information system (AIS) "AUTO";
  
• 
  Automated information system (AIS) "Railway";
  
• 
  Automated information system (AIS) "Act of customs inspection";
  
• 
  Automated information system (AIS) "Checking the payment of the customs payments";
  
• 
  Automated information system (AIS) "Customs warehouse";
  
• 
  Automated information system (AIS) "Customs offences";
  
• 
  Automated information system (AIS) "Customs expert of goods" - an object of supervision - drafting the protocols of customs offences;
  
• 
  Web-portal is intended for receiving State customs declaration (SCD)
  

through network Internet;

• 
  Bulletin of information of value is intended for correct determination of the customs value for imported goods;
  
• 
  Hermes is intended for processing of the realization of the electronic document;
  
• 
  Electronic signature;
  
• 
  Factorial analysis - on the base of various factors helps to conduct the analysis of transferring of cargo through customs border and to form the forecasts for the future;
  
• 
  “E-Report” is intended for drafting of the reports and realization of the electronic exchange.
  

From Agency on Informatization and Connection for the 8-th above mentioned programs are received corresponding certificates as the State information system.

The Main purposes of the making the systems - a speedup of the procedures of the customs registration and achievement their "transparencies", provision reliable declaration of goods and fellnesses of the arrival of the customs payments into the State budget.

All systems were designed with provision for requirements of safety information and protection from unauthorized access, as well as the following association them, as subsystems, into the United automated Information System of the State Customs Committee (UAIS SCC).
23. Customs Service in Great Britain

The United Kingdom has a variety of laws governing customs. Laws that regulate imports from other European Union countries tend to be standardized, but most other countries have unique regulations imposed on them. Therefore, all people traveling to the United Kingdom with questions on what they may bring should consult with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

Banned Goods

Some goods cannot be brought into the United Kingdom, regardless of the country of origin or the specific permits held by the traveler. This includes illegal drugs, switchblades (flick knives), pepper spray, stun guns, pornography or pirated goods. Other banned items may be imported if the traveler holds the relevant permit. This includes guns, ammunition, explosives, imitation guns, other offensive weapons, live animals, endangered species or products derived from endangered species, certain furs, certain radio transmitters or rough, non-cut diamonds.

Food Products

Anyone traveling from anywhere in the European Union, or from Switzerland, San Marino, Norway, Liechtenstein, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, the Canary Islands, or Andorra may bring as much disease-free animals or plant products as they wish, including meat and dairy. If arriving from Croatia, Iceland, the Faroe Islands or Greenland, you may bring up to 10 kilograms of combined meat and dairy. Otherwise, you may not bring in meat or dairy products into the United Kingdom. Other animal products, including honey and fish, may be admissible in certain quantities depending on the country of origin; check the laws on the individual country before traveling. Rules on importing fruits, vegetables and other plant products from countries other than those mentioned also vary from country to country.

Customs Checks

When arriving in the United Kingdom, there will be a choice to cross through a red channel. This is where you want to go if you have goods you must declare. Otherwise, walk through the line labeled "nothing to declare." If sending goods via the postal service, a customs declaration form must be clearly labeled on the package.

24. United States Customs Service

The United States Customs Service was an agency of the U.S. federal government that collected import tariffs and performed other selected border security duties.

In March 2003, it was rolled into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The United States Customs Service had three major missions: collecting tariff revenue, protecting the U.S. economy from smuggling and illegal goods, and processing people and goods at ports of entry.

Responding to the urgent need for revenue following the American Revolutionary War, the First United States Congress passed and President George Washington signed the Tariff Act of July 4, 1789, which authorized the collection of duties on imported goods. Four weeks later, on July 31, the fifth act of Congress established the United States Customs Service and its ports of entry.

As part of this new government agency, a new role was created for government officials who were known as "Customs Collector". In this role, one person would have responsibility to supervise the collection of custom duties in a particular city or region.

For over 100 years after its birth, the U.S. Customs Service was the primary source of funds for the entire government, and paid for the nation's early growth and infrastructure. Purchases include the Louisiana and Oregon territories; Florida and Alaska; funding the National Road and the Transcontinental Railroad; building many of the nation's lighthouses; the U.S. Military and Naval academies, and Washington, D.C.

Flag of the United States Customs Service

The flag of the Customs Service was designed in 1799 by Secretary of the Treasury Oliver Wolcott, Jr. and consists of 16 vertical red and white stripes with a coat of arms depicted in blue on the white canton. The original design had the Customs Service seal that was an eagle with three arrows in his left talon, an olive branch in his right and surrounded by an arc of 13 stars. In 1951, this was changed to the eagle depicted on the Great Seal of the United States.

Its actual name is the Revenue Ensign as it was flown by ships of the Revenue Cutter Service, later the Coast Guard, and at customs houses.

In 1910, President William Howard Taft issued an order to add an emblem to the flag flown by ships from the one flown on land at customs houses. The version with the badge continues to be flown by Coast Guard Vessels. Until 2003, the land version was flown at all United States ports of entry.

In the 20th century, as international trade and travel increased dramatically, the Customs Service transitioned from an administrative bureau to a federal law enforcement agency. Inspectors still inspected goods and took customs declarations from travelers at ports of entry, but customs agents used modern police methods—often in concert with allied agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and U.S. Border Patrol—to investigate cases often far from international airports, bridges and land crossings.

With the passage of the Homeland Security Act, the U.S. Customs Service passed from under jurisdiction of the Treasury Department to the Department of Homeland Security.

On March 1, 2003, parts of the U.S. Customs Service combined with the Inspections Program of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine from USDA, and the Border Patrol of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to form U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Federal Protective Service, along with the investigative arms of the U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, combined to form U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
25. Red and green channels in customs borders.
From next year, the double (green and red) channel system will be introduced at customs control points of Uzbekistan. According to the October 11 government decree, the system should enter into force at international airports on January 1, 2018, and at automobile and railway checkpoints - from January 1, 2021.

As noted in the document, the novelty is aimed at bringing the national customs clearance procedure in line with world standards, customs formalities simplification, creating facilities for tourism development and improving control methods.

In accordance with the approved Rules for application of dual channel system, individuals who pass through customs border may choose "green" or "red" channel for customs operations as a form of declaring goods for non-commercial purposes.

The provision stipulates that place of arrivals or departures to and from the customs territory must have at least one "green" and one "red" corridor. Their total number depends on passenger load. Corridors marks should be in Uzbek, Russian and English languages ​​(mandatory), and if necessary in other languages.

In "green" corridor goods are declared verbally. A person who chose the "green" channel is deemed to have nothing to declare.

No goods are admitted to the "green" channel, the import or export of which is prohibited or restricted by legislation, whose cost or amount exceeds the norms of duty-free import and subject to excise tax, as well as cash in soum and foreign currency exceeding the permitted import and export limits which are subject to declaration in writing.

If a person is suspected of not complying with the above requirements, customs officials may apply customs control steps that ensure compliance with the customs legislation. If a person who passes through the "green" channel is found in possession of goods that are subject to a written declaration, or cash exceeding limits not declared in writing, then this person shall be charged.

Persons passing through the "red" channel shall fill customs declaration. Here, the principle of selectivity and forms of customs control, determined by the customs body, shall be applied. If a person is found to be in possesion of non-declared items, which are subject to declaration in writing, he shall be held liable.

For goods intended for industrial or commercial purposes, the general rules of customs clearance apply.

Also, starting from January 1 the requirement to declare in writing cash in foreign currency taken in and out from the country in the amount of up to $ 2,000 is also being scrapped. Cash up to $ 5,000 can be taken in and out from the country without the written permission of the Central Bank.